Chiron Studies Teach Out (May 13-17, 2013)

Thanks to presenters, Chiron Committee members, and volunteers for making the Chiron Studies Teach Out a success! Documentation of the event will be available shortly.

The Chiron Studies Teach Out was a free celebration of highly democratic and participatory approaches to teaching and learning.

All events were held in Portland's South Park Blocks across from PSU's Millar Library (1875 SW Park).

Day One: Monday May 13, 2013

11:00 AM - 12:00 PMOpening Conversation Join us as we kick off this exciting event. We will discuss what has been happening with Chiron Studies during the past few years and how we perceive that Chiron Studies -- and similar programs -- are hugely beneficial to universities and the individuals they aim to serve. We will discuss the importance of student curriculum empowerment and enrichment in education and explore questions that arise during the course of this opening conversation.Facilitated by Chiron Studies Committee Members

12:00 PM-12:30 PM TBAGuided Meditation for Expanding ConsciousnessIn this guided meditation, participants will begin by deeply grounding themselves in their bodies, their immediate surroundings, and their present-moment awareness. From there, they will tune into the intrinsic intelligence of their heart and begin to expand their awareness outwards to become conscious of the electro-magnetic field constantly being generated by their physical heart. By developing this awareness and consciously practicing heart-based meditation, we can enter into deeper community with one another and with the natural world. Also, by practicing publicly we raise awareness of mindfulness techniques that increase overall well-being while creating an alternative to the frenetic pace of modern society.Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Eva Hamilton

12:30 PM-1:15 PMKalelujah!Food Action Collective will introduce participants to the holy power of kale in this hands-on workshop. This hearty green is a nutritional powerhouse loaded with antioxidants, and a single cup of raw kale provides 100% of the daily recommended value of vitamins A, K, and C. WIth a 10-month growing season in the Pacific Northwest, kale is often the first fresh green to appear at farmers' markets in spring, and it fluorishes well into winter. The first 50 participants will leave with their own miniature kale pot to take home and nurture, along with quick, healthy recipes like lemon tahini kale salad, green smoothies, crunchy kale chips, and more! We'll also discuss how you can get involved with Food Action Collective.Facilitated by members of Food Action Collective

1:15-2:00 PMGrass Chairs and Windchime: An Eco-Crafting WorkshopWe will work with materials salvaged from dumpsters on campus to create functional art. Specifically, we will be assembling sculptures that make noise in the wind, and earthen chairs that will eventually become covered in grass and installed in the community orchard. The workshop will begin with an introduction to the placemaking projects happening on campus at PSU towards the end of May as a part of the city-wide Village Building Convergence. We will be discussing the design of the Outdoor Orchard Classroom Space (one of this year's VBC projects, which will be constructed entirely out of found materials), as well as presenting opportunities for students to get involved with the planning, preparation, and production of the classroom and other fantastic placemaking projects.Facilitated by Steven Teegarden and Oran Stainbrook in conjunction with Village Building Convergence

2:00 PM-3:30 PMIntro to Bioregionalism: Pathway to Community ResilienceWith acknowledgement that our current way of life is unsustainable, we seek to paint another path forward in the shade of bioregionalism. During this activity, we will introduce the concept of bioregionalism and facilitate a discussion around what is currently happening here in the Cascadia bioregion that is leading our community down a path of resilience for the uncertain times ahead. We will focus on concepts of decolonization and rehabilitation o f place. We will take a walk around the park blocks and collectively pool our knowledge around what relationships we can and already have to the local plants and animals, demonstrating that a richness of relationshps to non-humans can also provide security during uncertain times.Facilitated by Elona Trogub and Felipe Ferriera

3:30-5:00 PMPoetry, Uncertainty, and New Media: The Hypertext PoemSeeded by a presentation on the form, participants will collaborate in composing a hypertext poem with card stock and string. The poem will remain on display for Teach Out participants to interact with throughout the forum, then will be archived as a hypertext poem on sciencepoetics.tumblr.com. Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Abi Stokes

Day Two: Tuesday May 14, 2013

11:00 AM-11:45 AM Bigfoots, DB Coopers, and UFOs over McMinville: Myth and History Mash Ups in OregonWhat is history? What is myth? And where do these constructed concepts crash and combine? We will examine the real world historical legacies of the USA's only unsolved skyjacking, Native legends of a large rain forest primate, and sightings of strange objects in the sky over McMinville. We will discuss which of these case studies should be accepted as history and which should be delegated to mythos. Perhaps most importantly, do these differentiations matter in our compendium of Cascadian consciousness? Examining histories, stories, and mythology, we are allowed to decide what to accept, adopt, and champion as our own "truths."Facilitated by Doug Kenck-Crispin, the resident Historian of orhistory.com and co-producer of the podcast series, Kick Ass Oregon History

11:45 AM-12:45 PMDebt, Morality, and Our Contemporary Moment: An Analytical DialogueWhat is the difference between obligation and debt? What is a legitimate debt and how can we tell? How have our concepts of debt and morality co-evolved since the dawn of civilization, and what is at stake for us today? We will be using these questions as a jumping off point for a larger examination of what debt means to us and how debt is used as a justification for situations that many (if not all) us us would find morally abhorrent. Though one or two illustrative examples will touch on international debt and the IMF, the discussion will focus primarily on the issue of student debt.Facilitated by Richard Van Barriger and Cameron Frank

12:45-1:45 PMMaking Upcycled Leg WarmersThis is a crafting workshop that will teach participants how to turn a torn, stained, or otherwise unusable sweater into a pair of cozy-chic leg warmers. In a social environment that puts a lot of emphasis on reusing and recycling, this project helps to "up-cycle" a damaged item into a fun accessory that can be made on the budget of even the most financially strained college student! Even if you've never sewn before, you might be surprised by what you can produce with a needle, some thread, and a little ingenuity!Facilitated by Crystal Chabot

1:45-2:30 PMWater: The Elixir of LifeWater is a living crystalline information system. Water is life. Water is amazing. Water makes up 70% of your body and 70% of the Earth's surface. Water is overlooked, misused, and misunderstood. Come learn about water -- what it is, where it comes from, how it is treated, and how it affects you. Learn about great minds that made profound discoveries regarding the true nature of water. Stay for a short demonstration on why you should be concerned about adding fluoride to Portland's water. Fresh, delicious, living spring water will be available for all to sample and enjoy.Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Jon Hurst

2:30-4:00 PMSuperhero Justice: Imagining Nonviolence in Comic BooksBatman. Wonder Woman. Wolverine. Humans have created hero mythology throughout the evolution of our species, serving as commentary on the times in which we live. In the last 80 years, comic books, television, and film have shown superheroes aiding police and the criminal justice system in locking up villains, or worse. When constantly bombarded with this type of justice, it decreases the possibility for us, as consumers of that media, to envision restorative justice and nonviolence as a satisfying and rewarding experience. This workshop will explore the question: Is a nonviolent superhero possible? We will explore comic books and imagine nonviolent superheroes through mixed media art and improvisation. Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Ashley Schmuecker

4:00-4:45 PM Visionquesting - An Imagintive Exploration of PSU's Oak SavannahIn this design charrette, we will be meditating in the Oak Savannah next to the SRTC - on the concept of place and the making of it. Together, we will imagine the future of the space and its potential as a shared place, and then put designs down on paper, which will serve as the inspiration for the creation of a new public gathering space to be made during the Village Building Convergence. The excercise will end with an introduction to the placemaking projects happening on campus at PSU towards the end of May as a part of the city-wide Village Building Convergence. We will discuss the design of the Oak Svannah outdoor classroom, as well as presenting opportunities for students to get involved with the planning, preperation, and production of this and other fantastic placemaking projects. Facilitated by Kirk Rhea and Oran Stainbrook in conjunction with Village Building Convergence

4:45-6:30 PMMalamalama: Cultural Creativity and the Light of KnowledgeIn Native Hawaiian "Malamalama" means "the light of knowledge." In Malamalama class, students frequently talk about illuminating our world with knowledge. These discussions provide insight for understanding our individual and collective limitations. With this knowledge we move beyond the limitations and begin creating culture that honors the great human potential. Please join us for our regularly scheduled class meeting. We will be holding class around the topic of cultural appropriation -- the interchange or adoptions of cultural elements from one culture to another. This is a current Chiron Studies class open to the public for the Teach Out.

Day Three: Wednesday May 15, 2013

11:00 AM-12:00 PMGoing to School on Your Own Terms: Making the Most of Your PSU ExperienceDiscover and share practical, applicable ways to make your class choices work for you. Navigating PSU requirements and understanding how to maximize and enrich your learning experience is not always an easy task. We are here to help! Join us for a small panel discussion with current students and alumni who understand the looming and latent frustrations of higher education. Learn techniques for creating a culture of knowledge instead of settling for passive consumption of courses and instructors as you network and connect your ideas with others'.Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructors Eva Hamilton and Jon Hurst

12:30 PM-1:00 PM TBA

1:00-2:00 PMDiscover Your Voice, Discover Your MedicineIn this playful and interactive workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore the sounds of your own unique voice. Through vocal warmups, chakra toning, breathing exercises and singing, you will tap into the power of your own sound while experiencing the healing nature of voicework. We will makes noise together, sing together and experience the joy of individual and collective sound!Facilitated by Nicole Sangsuree

2:00-2:45 PMCommunity Supported Agriculture and Food Access Join the Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition for a conversation around the radical origins of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model for supporting local farms and feeding the community. We will discuss how CSA has evolved and the barriers farmers are trying to overcome to make local, sustainable food affordable for more people. We will also brainstorm ways to increase access to fresh and healthy foods in Portland.Facilitated by Caylor Roling, Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition, and Emily Becker

2:45-3:30 PMNon-visual Site Mapping WorkshopClose your eyes and take your first few steps into a vibrant non-visual world. In this experiential workshop, artist Carmen Papalia will introduce participants to the practice of non-visual interpretation as a method for learning and knowing. Participants will have a chance to close their eyes and explore their surroundings independently while orienting themselves by means of their non-visual senses. The experience will culminate in a sharing circle in which participants will collaboratively develop a map based on their newly gathered perceptions of place.Facilitated by Carmen Papalia

3:30 - 5:00 PMHearing HanfordThis workshop will invite participants to learn about the Hanford Nuclear Reservation through the experience of ecopoetry . By refelcting on the relationship between nature and language, we will explore new ways of hearing and healing HanfordFacilitated by Laura Feldman

Day Four: Thursday May 16, 2013

9:30-10:30 AMGetting to Know PSU's Gardens: A Walking TourOn this walking tour, we will be visiting a number of the student gardening projects on campus to talk about their past, present, and future, how they make use of permaculture principles, and how they give us a sense of place, allowing us to feel connected to the land. Incidentally, several of these gardens will also be project sites for this year's Village Building Convergence. Throughout the tour, we will be brining the group up to speed on all that's being planned for VBC, as well as presenting opportunities for students to get involved with the planning, preparation, and production of these placemaking projects.Facilitated by Birdie Krebs, PSU Student/Garden Liaison in the Sustainability Learning Center

11:00 AM-12:30 PMUnderstanding OppressionDuring this workshop, we will draw out a shared definition of oppression, bringing to light questions of bias, inclusion, exclusion, privilege, power, access, and equity. The workshop will focus on understanding and differentiating between interpersonal and institutional expressions of oppression in service of dismantling all forms of oppression toward building equality and justice.Facilitated by Social Change Facilitator Choya Adkinson-Stevens

12:30-1:00 PM TBACommunity Oral History WorkshopOral history is an empowering way to collect and document the history of individuals and their memories. By documenting our own histories we are able to tell our lived experiences that have formed our memories. In this introduction workshop we will engage in hands-on learning of what goes into creating an oral history, and practice the art of active listening. Facilitated by former Chiron Studies Instructor Pong Wolfgun

1:00-1:45 PMLow Tech MycologyLearn how to use fungus to compost organic waste, create healthy soil, and grow gourmet and medicinal mushrooms with practically free resources. This interactive workshop includes a demonstration and resource sheet.Facilitated by Jordan Weiss

1:45-2:45 PMPsychomagic/PsychogenealogyWe will explore the impact our family tree has on our sense of identity and purpose through “becoming” the family tree of a participant. The individual will “cast” other participants as members of their family tree and place them in relation to each other (and themselves). We will give the volunteer the opportunity to say things to the “actors” playing their family members or have the “actors” say things to them that they need to say or hear in order to be free of any unwanted legacies from members of this family tree. This activity is patterned after the monthly salons offered in Paris by filmmaker and creator of psychomagic/psychogenealogy Alejandra Jodorowsky, best known for films such as El Topo, The Holy Mountain, and Santa Sangre.Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Aaron Kelly

2:45-3:45 PMTrash Mob: A Demonstration and Discussion About Waste and ReuseIn this public demonstration, we will use our bodies to represent the human waste stream, and then engage in a dialogue about how to see garbage differently -- as a resource and a building material. The workshop will include an introduction to the placemaking projects happening at PSU as part of the city-wide VBC. We will discuss the design of the mobile greenhouse (one of this year's VBC projects, which will be constructed of 3,000 plastic bottles) and presenting opportunities for involvement with this and other fantastic placemaking projects.Facilitated by Laura Kutner and Peter Daeges in conjunction with Village Building Convergence

3:45-4:45 PMHow to Grow Plants in Plastic Bottles: An Eco-Crafting WorkshopWe will turn ordinary plastic soda and water bottles into baby plant incubators. You will make your very own hanging plastic bottle planter, completely with freshly sown seeds (All materials provided). The workshop will include an introduction to the placemaking projects happening at PSU as part of the city-wide VBC. We will discuss the design of the mobile greenhouse (one of this year's VBC projects, which will be constructed of 3,000 plastic bottles) and presenting opportunities for involvement with this and other fantastic placemaking projects.Facilitated by Ridhi D'Cruz and Oran Stainbrook in Conjunction with Village Building Convergence

4:45 - 5:45 PMCollaboratibe Bottlecap Mosaics: A Public Art Making WorkshopWe will turn ordinary bottlecaps into beautiful mosaic designs that will be installed as public art pieces during the Village Building Convergence (VBC) (All materials provided). The workshop will include an introduction to the placemaking projects happening at PSU as part of the city-wide VBC. We will discuss the design of the mobile greenhouse (one of this year's VBC projects, which will be constructed of 3,000 plastic bottles) and presenting opportunities for involvement with this and other fantastic placemaking projects.Facilitated by Keisha Muia and Oran Stainbrook in Conjunction with Village Building Convergence

Day Five: Friday May 17, 2013

This is also the first day of PSU's international art & social practice conference, Open Engagement.

11:00 AM-12:30 PMPublic Social University and Local Exchange Trading Systems (In conjunction with Open Engagement)This is an interactive workshop on the potentials of utilizing LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems) as a means of nurturing and sustaining free schools. Participants will learn a bit about Public Social University, and role play together to learn how a LETS works to meet emerging needs of individuals and strengthen communities. You may be surprised to learn that you have skills and talents that you have never valued because they are undervalued by the dominant economy! Facilitated by Rozzell Medina

12:30-2:30 PM The Situational International and the DériveThe Situationaist International was an international revolutionary organization that combined avant-garde art with radical anarchist and communist political action and analysis, formed in 1957 and dissolved in 1972. The practice of dérive, or in English, "to drift," is a form of exploring what the Situationists called psychogeography. A dérive consists of an unplanned journey through a city, simply wandering, in an attempt to uncover the ways that architecture and geography affect people's emotions and behavior. We will explore this concept as it relates to the SI and then go on a dérive through Portland, encouraging people to share sentimental stories that relate to buildings or landscapes that we encounter, with reflection to follow.Facilitated by current Chiron Studies Instructor Brandon Speck

12:45-2:00 PMKaleidoscope Community YogaKaleidoscope community yoga is the art of yoga for groups. Sweet, supportive, transformative community fun! A hand-holding, body-bending, heart-connecting community format that everyone can enjoy. All ages and all levels. Participants flow through sacred geometrical shapes, patterns, and mandalas together. We are distilling the wisdom roots and postures of yoga and creating creative co-leadership, leaving room for participants to discover and suggest new geometrical poses. We will begin and end with a welcoming and sharing circle.Facilitated by Charlotte Faris, Yoga Nidra Instructor and LMT and Jarmila Darby, Yoga and Movement Arts Instructor

2:30-3:00 PMMaking a Living Doing What You LoveThis is an investigation that involves bravery, trust, creativity, determinism, and a willingness to think about finances in a creative way. Judy Fleming will share her findings as an artist and teacher and share responses from workers in her community of Oakland, CA. At the end of the talk, participants will be invited to create an action list of how they can make a living by doing what they love and rely less on the hierarchical system in place. A zine/workbook may be distributed. Facilitated by Judy Fleming

3:00-4:30 PMCare and Radical Pedagogy, a conversation with special guests (In conjunction with Open Engagement) This discussion will explore the role of care in the push toward social equality, educational sustainability, and the future of cultural institutions. Models for collaboration toward the goal of positive change are sprouting up all over! This panel will explore what is at the heart of these efforts. Five artists and educators who cite care as being crucial to their practice will discuss their work in relation to questions around care as a tool and guiding philosophy. Co-Facilitated by Kristin Lantz (educator at Columbus (OH) Museum of Art) and Carmen Papalia (PSU MFA in Art & Social Practice Alumn

5:00-7:00 PMClosing Party and Chiron Studies Fundraiser at Gnarly Grey (1235 SW Jefferson Street)This is an all ages party -- 21+ to drink! 1/2 of all well drink sales to benefit Chiron Studies!